UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Climate Consortium has announced a request for proposals for team projects that put proven climate solutions into action through interdisciplinary partnerships. The call is part of the consortium’s Climate Solutions Accelerator program. The deadline to submit a proposal is Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. (ET). All proposals must be submitted through InfoReady.
“The urgency of the climate crisis demands innovative discoveries in research and the seamless integration of these solutions into our daily lives,” said Erica Smithwick, distinguished professor of geography and director of the Climate Consortium. “Building on Penn State's commitment to addressing critical issues facing people and our planet, the Climate Consortium invites proposals to build teams that will champion cross-pollination of ideas between diverse academic fields and community stakeholders. Their mission is to design climate-intelligent solutions that are both fair and just for all and ensure the long-term well-being of both humanity and the environment.”
All Penn State faculty members (tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure-track) who hold an appointment at any Penn State campus are eligible to submit a proposal as principal investigator. Proposed projects should be beyond the idea/concept phase and should be ready to scale and/or be implemented by the end of the anticipated two-year funding period. Although this call is termed “level two” (with level one being a call for Climate Solutions Accelerator workshops), it is not required for applicants to have held a workshop to apply for level two.
Successful proposals will demonstrate strong engagement between academic and nonacademic partners through a co-design, participatory process; research innovations that show promise to meaningfully address the climate crisis; potential for solutions that provide tangible benefits for specific places, populations, or sectors; alignment with one or more of the themes of the Climate Consortium; potential for sustainable funding to advance research beyond Accelerator investment; and clearly stated impact goals and indicators to evaluate progress toward these goals.
The Climate Solutions Accelerator is an innovative effort aimed at catalyzing research projects geared towards offering impactful climate solutions for communities in Pennsylvania and globally. This program equips research teams with a comprehensive suite of resources, including access to funding, mentorship, dedicated workspace and support from both staff and non-tenure-line faculty. Through the Climate Solutions Accelerator, the consortium is actively fostering a collaborative environment to address climate challenges and advance sustainable solutions on a broader scale.